Tracking a feature of an interventional device

A method of indicating a position of an interventional device feature, the method comprising:

• providing, by an image reconstruction processor, a reconstructed ultrasound image corresponding to an image plane defined by an ultrasound imaging probe of a beamforming ultrasound imaging system;
• computing, by a position determination processor, (i) a position of a ultrasound transducer respective the image plane based on ultrasound signals transmitted between the ultrasound imaging probe and the ultrasound transducer, wherein the ultrasound transducer is attached to an interventional device at a predetermined distance from an interventional device feature attached to the interventional device, and (ii) a projection of the position of the ultrasound transducer onto the image plane;
• providing, by an icon providing processor, a first icon indicative of a circular zone with a radius corresponding to the predetermined distance between the ultrasound transducer and the interventional device feature;
• and
• providing, by an image fusion processor, a fused image comprising the reconstructed ultrasound image and the first icon, wherein the fused image is provided by (i) locating, in the reconstructed ultrasound image, an insertion point corresponding to the projected position of the ultrasound transducer onto the image plane and (ii) centering the first icon at the insertion point so that the first icon indicates possible positions of the interventional device feature within the image plane.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• provide a reconstructed ultrasound image corresponding to an image plane defined by an ultrasound imaging probe of a beamforming ultrasound imaging system;
• compute (i) a position of an ultrasound transducer respective the image plane based on ultrasound signals transmitted between the ultrasound imaging probe and the ultrasound transducer, wherein the ultrasound transducer is attached to an interventional device at a predetermined distance from an interventional device feature attached to the interventional device, and (ii) a projection of the position of the ultrasound transducer onto the image plane;
• provide a first icon indicative of a circular zone with a radius corresponding to the predetermined distance between the ultrasound transducer and the interventional device feature;
• and
• provide a fused image comprising the reconstructed ultrasound image and the first icon, wherein the fused image is provided by (i) locating, in the reconstructed ultrasound image, an insertion point corresponding to the projected position of the ultrasound transducer onto the image plane and (ii) centering the first icon at the insertion point so that the first icon indicates possible positions of the interventional device feature within the image plane.